Ladder



H. WlTTEK April 19, 1932.

LADDER Filed July 2l, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Apil 19, 1932. H. WITTEK 1,854,240

DDDD ER Patented Apr. 19, 1932 HERMANN WITTEN, or HOLSTEIN, GERMANY, Assignee; To BAULINE; smsen, @E L ELKHART, INDiANn LADDER Application filed .Tuly 21, 1930, Serial No. 469,331, andin Germany. July 25, 1929;,

My invention relates to ladders of the folding type and has as its object the provision of such a ladder' provided with an elevated well supported platform upon which the user may stand, all with a view toward the provision of such a ladder which is light, simple and convenient, and which may be folded in compact form.

With this object in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts by which the said object is effected, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.`

In the said drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ladder embodying my invention, with portions thereof broken away;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is another perspective view of the ladder with the platform struc-ture thereof folded, as hereinafter described; and,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the ladder in folded condition.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a ladder element of usual construction, and 2 3o designates a bra-ce element of a construction similar to that of the ladder element. The ladder and brace elements have their upper ends pivoted together by means of suitable hinges 3, for movement to and from an eX- tended self supporting position, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and a compact folded position, as shown in Figure 4.

A platform 4 is provided with an intermediate cross member 5, the ends of which are cylindrical, as designated at 6, and engage in cylindrical apertures 7 through the side members of the brace element 2 at upwardly disposed points thereon, see Figures 1 and 3, whereby the platform is intermediately pivot-ed on the brace element at an upwardly disposed point thereon for movement to and from an extended horizontal position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and a folded position overlying the brace element, as shown "J0 in Figure 3.

able' hinges 9 for movement to and from an d extended positiom as` shown in lliguresl 1' and 2, andi af foldedposition overlying the brace element, as shown in Figures 3' and 4f.

When theystrut element18 and theplatform 4 .are in their extended .'positions, the strut element is engaged under the corresponding end of the platformto-supportthe same-awhile` the othery end; of the plat-form; engages: downwardlyupon the upper-step 11 of the-ladder: element. See Figures 1. and2,.1

The platform is preferablyI provided with adjacentlyspaced. cross members 12.2y which, engage onopposite sides of the step 11 to pre-A vent displacement ofthe ladderv element.

y Hooks. 13'y areA provided on opposite sides of the platform. 4 which are engageable iIr eyesf14 nthe'- upperend ofytlie strut element to.hold thelsame-agai-nst a crossmember 15' on'the'platformand tofsecure'v the strut ele.

ment with the-.platform against pivotalimove.

menty of; the strut element'7 these' hooks being` releasable from these eyes-to permit folding' of,l theladfder; v

It will be4 observed that-.when the ladder is: set. up withthe platform extended, the platform is well supported and. provides; a; safe' and' convenientplaceto stand on, all of the parts being secured in extended position.

|The ladder may be used as an ordinary step-ladder with the platform 4 and strut element 8 in their folded positions as shown in Figure 3.

When folded the ladder is quite compact as shown in Figure 4, and the sides of the ladder element are provided with hooks 16,which are engageable in eyes 17 on the sides of the strut element 8 to secure the ladder in folded position.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but havl l ing thus described my invention I claim as new and 'desire to secure by Letters Pat-ent the following 1. In a ladder the combination with ladder and brace elements pivotally secured together adjacent their upper ends, a platform intermediately pivoted on the brace element on an axis adjacent its upper end, and a strut element pivotally secured on said brace element adj acent its lower end and adapted to support the corresponding end of said platform in its extended position, the other end of said platform being engageable downwardly upon a step of the lad-der element.

2. In a ladder the combination with ladder and brace elements pivotally secured together adjacent their .upper ends, a platform intermediately pivoted on the brace element on an aXis adjacent its upper end, a ystrut element pivotally secured on sai-d brace element adj acent its lower end and engageable under the corresponding end of said platform in its eX- tended position, the other end of said platform being engageable downwardly upon the upper step of the ladder element, and releasable means for securing said strut element engaged with said platform against pivotal movement of the strut element.

3. In a ladder the combination with ladder and brace elements pivotally secured together adjacent their upper ends, a platform intermediately pivoted on the brace element on an axis adjacent its upper end, a strut element pivotally secured on said brace element adjacent its lower end and engageablel .under the corresponding end of said platform in its extended position, the other end 0f said platform being engageable downwardly upon the upper step of the ladder element, releasable means for securing said strut element engaged with said platform against pivotal movement of the strut element, and means securing said ladder element against pivotal movement when said platform is engaged downwardly upon said upper step.

In witness whereof I affix my signature this 5th day of July, 1930.

HERMANN WITTEK. 

